Tag: 2025-2030 Dietary guidelines for Americans

Dairy’s Importance Reflected in New Dietary Guidelines

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

A yearslong effort by NMPF to maintain dairy’s prominence in American diets and regain support for dairy products of all fat levels culminated in the Jan. 7 release of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans by the Department of Health and Human Services and USDA.

USDA and HHS update the guidelines every five years and affect government policies in numerous ways, including school meal offerings. The latest guidelines maintain the previous recommendation of three dairy servings per day for those consuming a 2,000-calorie diet. This year’s edition explicitly endorses full-fat dairy consumption, including whole milk, which is a marked departure from previous guidelines that recommended only low- and non-fat milk.

“NMPF thanks HHS and USDA for recognizing dairy’s critical role in a healthy diet in the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, as shown by its continued recommendation of three servings of dairy for Americans, its recognition of dairy’s benefits at all fat levels, and dairy’s prominence in diverse diets,” NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud said in a statement. “We are proud to benefit American health in fundamental ways, and we welcome the potential these guidelines hold for expanding upon dairy’s critical role in the diet.”

NMPF’s work to highlight advances in nutrition and scientific research showing the value of dairy consumption of all fat levels, including evidence that substituting higher-fat dairy for lower-fat dairy is not linked with increased risk of cardiovascular disease morbidity. The scientific review committee that makes recommendations for dietary guidelines previously acknowledged that reducing or eliminating dairy from the diet leads to undernourishment in key nutrients for millions of Americans, which is reflected in the final guidelines.

The new guidelines also include stricter limits on added sugars, stating that while no amount of added sugars or non-nutritive sweeteners is recommended or considered part of a healthy or nutritious diet, one meal should contain no more than 10 grams of added sugars. The naturally occurring sugar in milk is acknowledged as not counting towards those 10 grams; still, the new guidelines may pose a challenge for some flavored milks and dairy products, such as yogurt, as the administration signals work on a new school meals rule.

The accompanying document to the guidelines, “Daily Servings by Calorie Level,” also includes concerning language about “fortified dairy alternatives” in its definition of the “dairy” food group. Previously, the guidelines only acknowledged fortified soy as a dairy substitute.

NMPF has repeatedly emphasized that imitators do not offer the same consistent package of nutrition provided by real milk, which the scientific review committee agreed in its 2024 report. Any encouragement of plant-based alternatives when lactose-free milk is available to those who are lactose-intolerant is out of step with otherwise encouraging recommendations.

With the guidelines out, the federal government will begin applying them across federal programs.

Dairy’s Future Bright, But Present Needs Matter

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

Dairy farmers and cooperatives got off to a great start to 2026 in January.

Our prominence in the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans will send a positive message about the value of nutritious dairy products for years to come and make it easier for consumers to have access to those products through federal food programs. Meanwhile, the president’s signature on the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act cements a legislative victory for the next generation of milk drinkers, allowing them to have in school what they already have at home and encouraging consumers to keep dairy central to American diets.

But great times for dairy do not necessarily mean great times for individual dairy farmers. Supply and demand that is out of alignment means lower prices, lower margins and hardship for producers now. As the nation’s leading advocate for dairy farmers, we have already started conversations on Capitol Hill and with the White House on what can be done to help farmers continue producing the milk that fuels the nation.

We are optimistic that dairy advocates in the federal government understand what farmers are facing, and that meaningful assistance can be achieved. But politics remains, as they say, the “art of the possible.” We’re focusing on what policies will truly benefit producers and will be achievable in the short term, without falling into the trap of calling for nostrums that could have unintended consequences for producers and commodity markets.

Here are a few approaches we are advocating:

  • Immediate, forceful support for whole milk in schools. We are incredibly encouraged by the administration’s embrace of whole milk in the Dietary Guidelines, which follows Congress’s unanimous support of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. Now, the challenge is to get into school meals. That means quickly implementing the rules needed to introduce whole and 2% milk to menus and offering funding that will help schools cover any additional expense needed to make these healthy products available.

While whole milk has always been about nutrition for the next generation of milk drinkers, it’s also important to note the immediate effects that greater support could bring: Because whole and 2% absorb butterfat, it will help alleviate some of the supply overhang that’s harming milk checks.

  • As it did during the COVID-19 pandemic and at other times of dairy-industry turmoil, we are asking USDA to consider targeted purchases of dairy products to distribute to communities that need them. This is not a heavy lift, considering that USDA purchases of dairy under Section 32 commodity programs have declined in recent years. Simply returning butter purchases to 2021 levels, and cheese and fluid milk to 2024, would significantly reduce surpluses and boost dairy income, helping balance supply with demand.
  • Bolstered support for federally supported risk management programs. Dairy farmers can help themselves by signing up for the DMC Program, which was improved in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. With updated production histories and a larger number of pounds covered, DMC is more attractive for farmers now than it was in the past; we encourage all dairy farmers to sign up for it (and potentially lock in a 25% discount on premiums) by the Feb. 26 deadline.

Still, DMC is just one part of the federally supported risk management system for dairy. Improving Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) coverage with enhanced premium support is appropriate to consider under dairy’s current circumstances. Improvements to both DMC and DRP will ensure dairy producers of all sizes have adequate and affordable risk management tools.

  • Disaster assistance. NMPF appreciates USDA’s announcement of $1 billion in September through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program to help offset increased supplemental feed costs due to floods or wildfires in 2023 and 2024. We encourage USDA to continue moving as quickly as possible to get this funding delivered to producers and to be mindful of opportunities to assist as other disaster-related needs become available.

 

The ideas above are by no means the only ways to assist dairy in a challenging moment, but they’re clear, they’re tangible, and we believe they are achievable, working with the team at USDA and our advocates in Congress. They go hand in hand with the work we do every day for dairy farmers, from pushing for vigilance on H5N1 and New World screwworm to support efforts to open markets and promote U.S. dairy products overseas.

We are not looking for extreme government intervention, which is neither necessary nor likely. But we do know — as support for whole milk and dairy in legislation and the Dietary Guidelines shows — that our federal government appreciates dairy farmers, and that there are tools that can effectively support markets in times of need. We look forward to working across the public and private sectors for solutions that benefit dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own. It’s what we do, in good times, in bad times, and in times when good and bad are both happening, in different ways, at once.

Gregg Doud

President & CEO, NMPF

 

Dairy Does Well in Dietary Guidelines

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

New Dietary Guidelines for Americans are encouraging to dairy in ways that are consistent with the latest science and consumer needs for high-quality, affordable nutrition, NMPF Director of Regulatory Affairs Miquela Hanselman said in a Dairy Defined Podcast.

“We turned out pretty well in the guidelines,” Hanselman said in the podcast released today. “We hit the three servings. Dairy is a distinct group. Full-fat dairy is recommended repeatedly throughout the guidelines, which everyone was very excited to see.”

Hanselman also outlines how these guidelines came to be, and what work remains to be done in the next edition of the twice-a-decade guidelines. To hear more Dairy Defined podcasts, you can find and subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music under the podcast name “Dairy Defined.”

Why Dairy’s Moment Matters

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

Dairy’s moment is extending into 2026. In many ways, it’s strengthening.

Whole milk is coming back into schools — after being explicitly kept out of recent editions of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, there it is, specifically included in the new inverted Food Pyramid.

Cheese, butter and yogurt are on the icon too, part of a federal emphasis on whole foods as dairy not only matches the moment, it matches the science, too.

Dairy farmers and their cooperatives are no doubt delighted. With apologies to the Wisconsin state license plate, which calls that state “America’s Dairyland,” perhaps we should say that everywhere, America is Dairyland. But victory dances aside, it’s important to remember why all this matters. For a refresher:

  • Dairy is a critical, affordable source of high-quality nutrition
    • Protein: It provides all essential amino acids, which are vital for muscle repair and growth.
    • Bone Health: It’s an excellent source of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D, which builds strong bones and prevents osteoporosis.
    • Immune Support: It’s a major source of vitamin D, zinc, and vitamin A, bolstering immune function.
    • Micronutrient Powerhouse: It includes potassium (for blood pressure), B vitamins (energy), magnesium (nerve function), and iodine (brain development), nutrients under-consumed by much of the U.S. population.
    • Cost-Effective: Dairy provides significant nutrients for a low cost per serving, making it a budget-friendly way to get essential vitamins and minerals.
    • Reduced Chronic Disease Risk: Dairy-rich diets are linked to lower risks of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.
  • Because accepting dairy at all fat levels and acknowledging its diversity encourages greater access to and consumption of that nutrition
    • Full-Fat Dairy Tastes Good: The richer and creamier taste of fuller-fat dairy appeals to more people, encouraging greater intake.
    • Nutritional Powerhouse: School programs can leverage dairy’s 13 essential nutrients to meet children’s needs.
    • The “Food Matrix” Advantage: The natural combination of fat, protein, and other components (the “food matrix”) in whole dairy might offer benefits beyond isolated nutrients, including better weight management and lowered diabetes risk.
    • Satiety & Weight: Full-fat dairy’s fat and protein content can increase fullness, potentially leading to fewer total calories consumed.
    • Product Diversity and Versatility: Dairy’s wide range of products, including milk, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, and lactose-free or low-lactose options, fits diverse dietary needs; offering it at all fat levels ensures more people consume dairy.
  • Because dairy supports rural communities and families nationwide
    • Jobs: The dairy industry supports millions of jobs, from farm labor and processing to transportation, boosting rural economies.
    • Sustaining Family Farms: 95% of U.S. dairy farms are family-owned, keeping wealth and decision-making within a community.
    • Fighting Food Insecurity: Dairy farmers and organizations partner with food banks to provide essential nutrients to vulnerable populations.
    • Local Engagement: Dairy farms and co-ops sponsor local events, support school programs, and contribute to local infrastructure, building strong community ties.

And all these benefits are only scratching the surface. U.S. dairy also feeds the world; U.S. dairy farmers are sustainability leaders; and (speaking of moments) birthday parties just go better with ice cream. The endorsements dairy has received at the highest levels of government in recent weeks strengthens all of this. And its recognition that’s come after years of leadership and effort throughout the dairy industry.

Moments are important. They don’t last forever: Rules will be written, and critics will find new lines of attack. All isn’t rosy in the world of dairy, where lower prices are making times challenging for farmers even as demand reaches new heights. But dairy is succeeding in many ways. It’s something to raise a glass to — we’ll leave it to you to guess what that glass should appropriately contain.

 

NMPF Statement on the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

From NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud:

“NMPF thanks HHS and USDA for recognizing dairy’s critical role in a healthy diet in the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, as shown by its continued recommendation of three servings of dairy for Americans, its recognition of dairy’s benefits at all fat levels, and dairy’s prominence in diverse diets. We are proud to benefit American health in fundamental ways, and we welcome the potential these guidelines hold for expanding upon dairy’s critical role in the diet.

“As also shown in the scientific report that preceded today’s guidelines, reducing or eliminating dairy from the diet leads to undernourishment in key nutrients for millions of Americans. These guidelines encourage consumption of dairy nutrients critical to human health. Meanwhile, not all fats are created equal, and because the guidelines acknowledge this, dairy’s benefits are better reflected in this iteration of the guidelines.

“Now that the guidelines are out, the federal government will begin applying them across federal programs. We look forward to working with the entire nutrition community to ensure that dairy is best used to generate positive health outcomes for families across America.”